If a doctor told you he could make your unborn child immune from HIV, what would be your reaction?
Would you recoil with horror? Would you take up his offer without a moment's thought? Or would you not think much of it?
In November 2018, a Chinese doctor claimed to have created the world's first genetically edited babies. He edited their genes to make them immune from HIV.
In the years since doubt has been cast on the doctor's claims. Research published a year afterwards found the doctor didn't reproduce the gene mutation that confers resistance.
The doctor made novel edits to the babies genetics with no idea what the possible consequences would be.
Not only is this unethical and troubling it has huge implications for the future.
What happens when this process is perfected? Will we edit embryos to confer immunity from HIV, cancer and other horrific diseases?
What about increasing the brainpower of your child? Their strength, athletic abilities, height? The list goes on and on, opening up a pandora's box of possibilities.
Who will benefit from this? The likeliest answer is the rich. They'll be able to afford such treatments and demand the best possible outcomes for their unborn offspring.
If the practice becomes commonplace, we could end up in a situation not dissimilar to the film Gattaca. A society of genetically engineered superhumans and the rest of us.
What will be the result for humanity? Will this represent a split into two species, Homo Sapiens and Homo Geneticus?
Only time will tell. With designer babies, it's not a case of if we could, it's a matter of whether we should.
Terrifying future!! - one must think.